Swann Galleries will be offering illuminating material related to scientists and inventors in its auction of Autographs on October 29. Among the many highlights is a Letter Signed by Thomas Edison to Brazil's Minister of Agriculture, circa December 1880.

Edison's letter explains his intention to send an envoy to search Brazil for a vegetable fiber filament that would help him “to perfect the electric light and bring it into practical everyday use” and is estimated to sell between $8,000 and $12,000.

If you are interested in Edisoniana and find yourself in the New York area, consider a visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey, where Edison’s Laboratory Complex has recently been opened to the public, including exhibits featuring his private laboratory and photography studio. Visit the Thomas Edison National Historical Park website for more information.